Reality Really Was Far More Fantastical Than Fiction

"Teacher, Elder Danzo doesn't plan to..." Kenichi Amamiya raised a hand to his neck and made a slicing gesture.

Danzo had always coveted the position of Hokage. If the Third had not kept him suppressed for so long, he would have lost patience long ago. And now, this opportunity was perfect.

Kenichi Amamiya did not understand why Danzo was not making a move.

"Hiruzen Sarutobi did lose his arm for the sake of the village, after all, and he has no intention of leaving Konoha right now." Orochimaru sneered. His teacher truly was cautious enough.

Kenichi Amamiya understood. That was indeed the case. The Third's prestige within the village was currently very high, and at today's funeral, his impassioned speech about the Will of Fire had won over quite a few people.

If something happened within the village at a time like this, it would be a blatant slap in the face. Unless the Third left Konoha and was assassinated outside, that would be somewhat safer.

But the Third clearly had no intention of leaving Konoha. He planned to resolve the issue of his arm as quickly as possible and return to the position of Hokage.

"The payment this time is quite generous. There's no harm in lending a hand." Thinking of that compensation, Orochimaru's mood improved considerably.

Kenichi Amamiya nodded knowingly. No wonder his teacher had agreed to help.

Still, it seemed that his teacher did not harbor much killing intent toward the Third right now. Had something happened later on?

"Enough. You were the one who proposed the concept of Rejection, so now I need your help as well. Let's go. Sarutobi is urging us quite urgently." Orochimaru waved a hand. His teacher was indeed in a great hurry.

All the clever people in Konoha understood that Sarutobi could not be attacked within the village, but this opportunity was simply too rare.

Even if Danzo did not make a move against Hiruzen Sarutobi, he might recommend himself as the Fifth Hokage.

Wouldn't that leave his teacher's plans in vain?

And given Danzo's temperament, he would probably begin this plan very soon.

Previously, Orochimaru would certainly have been very interested. But now that he had seen through it all, he truly had no desire to get involved in this political whirlpool, so rotten it made him nauseous.

Konoha needed rebirth, and rebirth often emerged from the ruins of destruction.

"My help?" Kenichi Amamiya froze, but then he thought of something. His teacher had probably brought him along as a matter of convenience.

After all, he had already explained Rejection very thoroughly, and his teacher understood it now too. Theoretically, there was no need for his assistance.

But after they arrived at a building, Kenichi Amamiya finally understood why his teacher had brought him here.

Because there were many ninja standing inside the building. Some were excited, some frightened, some uneasy—a glimpse of every facet of life.

"Teacher, this is..." Kenichi Amamiya thought of the arm transplant his teacher had mentioned earlier.

Was this how they intended to carry out the transplant?

"Those ninja who were killed or injured yesterday have all been buried, and decomposition has already become an issue." Orochimaru remained calm, though Kenichi Amamiya could sense the chill in his eyes.

"The Sarutobi Clan put out a call. Whoever ultimately provides an arm for the Third will receive a substantial pension, and they can also be given work at the mission assembly hall." After hearing his teacher's words, Kenichi Amamiya understood.

It was much as he had imagined. These people had come to undergo Rejection testing, and whoever had the highest compatibility would provide Hiruzen Sarutobi with an arm for transplantation.

Some might have come for a living. After all, a substantial pension and a job at the mission assembly hall were quite appealing, with the price being the loss of their left hand.

Others had come because of the Will of Fire, believing that dedicating themselves to a heroic figure like the Third was an exceptionally happy thing.

"This is practically brainwashing." Kenichi Amamiya shook his head, but said nothing. He simply carried out his duties diligently.

Because there were many participants, the Anbu maintained order, and the Third occasionally came over to thank them, the seemingly complicated work was completed very quickly.

Watching the fortunate man who had been selected early on as the perfect match, Kenichi Amamiya wiped his hands.

Come to think of it, Medical Ninjutsu in the Ninja World was truly strange. Transplant surgeries that would have been difficult even in his previous life were easily completed here.

Watching the Third thank the man, and seeing the ninja's delighted, proud expression, Kenichi Amamiya felt that this world was simply too fantastical.

"Let's go. We're done here." Orochimaru left immediately. If he had not needed to stay and observe, he would have left as soon as they found a suitable candidate. Now, he could finally go.

As Kenichi Amamiya was leaving, he could not help looking back. The Third happened to look toward his teacher and him as well, and their gazes met.

The Third stood beneath the sunlight, bathed in its radiance, surrounded by bustling ninja who were happy for him.

Kenichi Amamiya turned away and followed his teacher into the dark corridor. There was no one around them, and only the clamor behind them could be heard.

But when they pushed open the door, sunlight streamed in from outside as well.

"Want to get some barbecue, Kenichi?" Orochimaru turned back with a smile and asked his disciple. Kenichi Amamiya froze.

At that moment, he involuntarily overlaid the image of that girl he had seen before, the suspected target of Living Corpse Reincarnation, onto his teacher.

If Teacher looked like that girl...

"Sure, Teacher." Kenichi Amamiya smiled happily.

It was the familiar Akimichi Clan BBQ Restaurant, but this time Orochimaru had unusually invited Mitaraishi Anko as well. Kenichi Amamiya was somewhat surprised, though he did not find it too strange.

But as he watched his teacher occasionally show concern for Mitaraishi Anko at the table, Kenichi Amamiya's expression grew peculiar.

It looked somewhat like he was making arrangements for after his death.

Of course, Orochimaru definitely would not die, so he certainly was not making final arrangements. That left only one possibility: his teacher planned to leave Konoha. The likelihood was high.

That was why he had called Mitaraishi Anko over and spoken to her about certain things. Though others might not see it as concern.

For Kenichi Amamiya, who knew his teacher very well, it was an exceptionally rare display of concern.

"Are we leaving Konoha?" Kenichi Amamiya was somewhat excited.

Conducting experiments in Konoha came with obstacle after obstacle. Leaving Konoha would be more troublesome at first, but afterward they would have far more freedom, and every kind of experiment could be carried out.

Kenichi Amamiya glanced at his teacher. A strange idea had come to him.